Comments on: HOW TO: get your toddler to sleep without a fuss

By: Cheri

Cheri — Wed, 06 May 2009 05:21:49 +0000

Someone would really call child services on someone who lets their children cry it out? That is obsurd. Maybe the parents are letting them cry out their tantrum. Maybe they are letting them cry themselves to sleep. Maybe they are crying so long because they dont feel good and the parent IS nurturing them, there is just no helping it. So why would someone call child services when they don’t know exactly what is going on at their neighbors house? Ridiculous people. I am a stay at home mom and my son drives me nuts sometimes so yes i am going to let him cry it out so i don’t lose it and hurt him.

By: Kim

Kim — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:28:02 +0000

My husband has been pressuring me to stop nursing and co-sleeping with our 19 mo. daughter because he is concerned that she isn’t independently sleeping. I’ve been doing a lot of research on the issue and am so glad I found this website. Wow – I have been so blessed. She’s not the perfect sleeper, but she falls asleep within 20 minutes after reading (usually by 7:30p) and sleeps through the night until 8:30 or 9 in the morning. I have my evening time free, and climb into bed with her without her waking up and sleep soundly by her side through the night. She naps the same way for an hour to two hours each day (when I’m lucky I get to nap, too!). It’s not always convenient, but I love our close time together. I have already noticed that her interest in nursing is starting to taper off and she is more interested in the stories and pictures in the books we read. I tried at one point to let her cry in a crib, but it felt so wrong to me, and I’m glad I followed my heart. I think what I’ve learned from reading all these comments is that you have to do what feels right to you and what seems to work for your child. My daughter is happy and healthy and more than developmentally appropriate for her age. We have a loving and respectful bond. I hope I can find a way to convince my husband that there is nothing “wrong” with her sleeping and that we are actually really lucky to have such a great sleeper and such a beautiful and healthy daughter!

By: So Sleepy

So Sleepy — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 05:42:16 +0000

My daughter is 2.5 and also threw up when we tried letting her cry herself to sleep. It was too much for me, so we tried a different routine. Our little one is very sensitive and seems to think bedtime is a punishment since we are trying to leave her in there. So we are slowly working on getting her comfortable with being in the by herself. She has a little night light she can use to read her books and then turn off when she is ready. I stay in her room and let her hold my hand until she falls asleep. I will slowly work to sitting at the end of the bed and then move to sitting in my room, but I agree, it is all about baby steps and making sure your child is comfortable in their room by themselves. If you really want them to sleep on their own, you are going to have to put in the time to get them there, otherwise if you are too pushy it will all backfire!

By: Molly's Mommy

Molly's Mommy — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:19:57 +0000

OMG I laughed so hard that I was crying when I read the part about her sitting in the dark on the mattress being freaky….that is so funny. I can relate to that

By: Joey

Joey — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:54:12 +0000

Hi, I am going to try this. I have a 2 year old that will be turning 3 in May and has issues going to sleep alone! Enough is enough! Our daughter use to be a good sleeper at night and nap time until we decided on her 2nd b-day to transition her to a toddler bed because her baby brother was coming and we needed the crib for him. I thought this wont be an issue since she is a good sleeper and we have never had issues. Wow we were wrong! She was ok the first couple of months that her brother was home but then she would cry hysterical at bed time! needless to say she sleeps with mommy and daddy and naps in our bed too! I know this is a bad sleep habit but with the newborn I had to get some sleep! I think this adive is going to work and I am going to try it. I know I have to be conistant and stick to my guns every night…so I will try my hardest!!!

By: Yvonne

Yvonne — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:12:31 +0000

I have a 22 month old little boy who took 4.5 hours to go to sleep last night. This has been a pretty normal event for me since he was born. He has never been one to sleep through the night and rarely sleeps beyond 3 hours without waking up. Since birth it has been like this. Of course I am a single mom and have to deal with this alone. I have usually resorted to letting him sleep with me so I can function in the morning for work. Another downfall is that we live in a one-bedroom apartment so we share a room. He will fall asleep quite easily and doesn’t give much trouble, but he wakes every 15-20 minutes screaming for me. I am so frustrated and sleep-deprived I barely notice it anymore that I’m exhuasted. But I know this is not healthy for either of us. I need some tips on how to handle the abrupt wakings several times each night. This occurs mostly when he sleeps alone, however when he sleeps with me he still whimpers a lot at night. I have mentioned this to his Dr. but they didn’t seem to think much of it, he is healthy and growing as he should…please help me….

By: worried:(

worried:( — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:08:53 +0000

I have a little girl who just turned 18 months old. Up until a month ago she was a perfect sleeper. Last month she was sick a few times and was also getting her molars. At this time her sleep patterns changed. The only thing that worries me so much is that she was on a few antibiotics and had the flu shot right before these changes started. I have read of so many bad effects from to many antibiotics and the flu shot. I have worried myself sick over it. She acts fine during the day except for being a little more easily aggitated. But come bedtime its a different story. I put her to bed and she immediately stands up and screams and cries. If I let her cry to long it takes 20 minutes or so to get her calmed down again. If I sit in the room with her and try to rock her she just cries and wants “dowm”. This usually leads to going back downstairs until she plays herself to sleep. I just can’t help but worry maybe the flu shot has had a negitive effect on her. I have read so much about mercury in the flu shot and the harm it causes. I hope its just her getting out of her sleep routine and needs to be taught again about bedtime. ??

By: Kristianna

Kristianna — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:56:00 +0000

I am going through the same thing with my son who is 22 months old. He was the BEST sleeper when he was younger. Then he discovered how to get out of his crib and started climbing out. We switched over to a “big boy” toddler bed and even re-did his “big boy” room. We have had a steady schedule with him since he’s been sleeping in his crib/bed (about 5 months old) but nothing seems to be working. He wants us in there with him until he falls asleep and then if he wakes up or hears something he starts crying and gets out of bed. My doctor told me to put on some soothing music at night, which has helped a little, but I’m still exhausted! My doctor also told me to do the same thing every night, when possible, which we do. He said to let him cry for 15 minutes to start, then go in and lay/calm him down. Each time we are supposed to add 10 minutes to the time that we leave him in there. Hopefully this works for someone!! We are still trying to find the magic tick that works for us!

By: Renee

Renee — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:01:14 +0000

My 2 1/2 year old, throws a major “super Nanny” like fit every time it is time to go to bed. She calls for us constantly and takes up to 2 hours to go to bed. Can someone please give me some advice?

By: MEOW

MEOW — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:34:11 +0000

Hello
My little girl is 26 months and still having a hard time getting to sleep , she keeps going to bed with laying down with her and then about a couple hours in she wakes up and wants to play and play sometimes I give her the warning that I am going to go for abit then I get feeling bad for her and I go and come back and when i tell her its not time to play its time for bed and then sometimes she will hit me and tell me to go away and it hurts my feelings i know she doesn’t mean it but still .. Anyways I find at night my husband and I are so tired by time she finally is out for abit and we end up well not well doing anything lol anyway I just don’t know if I should give her naps in the day or not give her naps in the day I duno I guess im just fustrated with stuff and then also we live in an appartment so for the crying it out thing its bugs me for reasons of someone thinking im doing something or that I am neglecting my child becuz of the woman that mentioned that what was her name dominque? now that i read that it really erks me as to what I can do about figuring a way and I love my little girl I want more kids very soon. I pray I can figure a routine and help her sleep on her own and what not .
I am also trying to get her to do toilet training *yes i know its sorda late)anyways so many things to train her with that i don’t want to make her feel bad if she can’t get one you know ? Im sorry I am just not sure what more to do to be honest